Liquefied gas dispensing apparatus



Feb. 21, 1950 o. R. ANDERSON LIQUEFIED GAs DISPENSLNG APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June '7, 1940 S- Sheets-Sheet 2 jzyezaz? OZf'- O R ANDERSON LIQUEFIED GAS DISFENSING APPARATUS Feb. 21, 1950 Filed June 7, 1940 WJ @NW @NN l\ MANN Feb. 2l, 1950 Filed June 7, 1940 o. R. ANDERSON LIQUEFIED GAs DISPENSING APPARATUS I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES ENTA OFFICE 2,497,969 LIQUEFIED. GAS nIsPENsrNG ArrAisA'rU'sA Olaf R. Anderson, Chicago, Ill., assignor', by mesne* assignments, to rIhe Bastian-Blessing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 7,1940, ASeriali No. 339,218

` level in the tank through a pressure reducing regulator and thence 'to the gas consum-ing appliance. The other method, known as flash vaporization, consists in withdrawing unvaporized liquid from the tank and"V passing this liquid through a heat exchanger placed at some remote point, usually within thehous'e served by the`V system. In the heat exchanger the liquid is ordinarily converted to agas andthe gas piped toA thel gas consuming appliances through a pressure reducing regulator.

Each of the above systems has disadvantages which it is an object of the present invention to overcome.

One objection to consumer bulk systems ofthe batch vaporizationtype, using mixed gase's-7 is that propane has" a higher vapor pressure'- than butanev and, consequently, the proportion off' the twogases in the mixture supplied byl suclr ay sys tem is' constantlyvv changing. The effect oftl'lis that the adjustment of burners designed to burn the gas must at best be a compromise, andi there-A fore, the burners cannot `use the gas as eiilciently as would be possible if a gas of a uniform mixture 'could' be supplied from the generating ap`- paratus;

Theash vaporizati'on system, although it supplies a gas ofsubstantially constant character, yis objectionable because of an inherentll-acl-r of safety. This is brought about' bythefact that when considerable gas is being used, the capacity' ot the heat exchanger may be exceeded, inasmuch asl each gallon of liquid vapori'zed absorbs aps proximate1y'750B. t.` u. of heat. Since the heat exchanger and the tank do not depend:4 on"A the same source for heat, it trequentlyfhappens. that; the tank is warm enough to force. .liquidA tofthe heat exchanger, while theA heat;exchanger'rislso cold that vaporizationtherein isv not accom-.- pllshed'. The result of this: is that `llquidfmayr 6 Claims. (Cl: G2-1 squirt from the gas burners, and since asmall quantity of liquid creates a vlarge body of gas, a

serious explosion or re is likely to` result.

Another objection to flash vaporization systems as usually provided is that the installation ex-` pense is relatively' high because of the necessity for installing and connecting the several separate units. i

' It is, therefore; the principal' object of my invention to providev a novel consumer bulk system which combines' the advantages of the above sys-- tems without incorporating their serious disad-I An additional object of my invention is to'provide a novel and safer gas dispensing apparatus `oi theabove general type, which dispenses a unil form'` gas even though the liquid in t-he tank may be a mixture.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a' novel flash vaporizatio'n consumer bulk system which' may' be installed as a unit inthe manner usually' employed` in the installation vof batch vaporization systems.

Another object is to providean' improved gas dispensing systemy which will operateto dispense anniform gas from such varied mixtures offh-igh vapor' pressure petroleum fractionsv as casing head gasv` without the danger of liquid being forced to' the gas consuming appliances.

An additional object of my invention is to-pro'-V vide a novel protective casing for a gas dispenseV ing apparatus 'which is collapsible for shipping, and which' enables the user to' obtain access to the dispensing `accessories while allowing access to the lling accessories only to one authorized to service the system.

Stili another object is to provide novel means for venting the protective casing to the atmosphere.

Anadditional object is to provide a novel fitting having all accessories for servicing a consumer bulk system.

Other objects andV advantages will become. ap parent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1` isa longitudinal sectional view ofaV gas' storage 'and dispensing apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the appara-tus showing the'manholecovers, casing vent andI general shape of theA casing;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken in'` the directionof thef arrows substantially along. the. line 3-3 of Fig',v 2,J illustrating the portionv 3 of the apparatus which projects yabove the ground;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus secured to the lling pipe;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View through the upper portion of the apparatus for dispensing gas from the tank; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing an alternative arrangement of the low pressure vent valve.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the liquefied gas storage and dispensing apparatus illustrated comprises a tank I provided with two longitudinally spaced anged openings I 2 and I4. Of these, the opening I2 has a vertical pipe I6 either threaded or welded therein. The opening I4 is similarly provided with a second pipe I8 secured parallel to the pipe I6.

The top end of the pipe I6 is provided with a cast, or preferably forged, fitting threaded or Welded thereto, while the pipe I8 is similarly provided with a. fitting 22. As a matter of convenience, the pipe I6 and fitting 20 -will be referred to, respectively, as the lling pipe and filling fitting, while the pipe I8 and tting 22 will be referred to as the dispensing pipe and dispensing fitting.

The filling tting 20 is provided in the center of its upper surface with a glass covered opening 24 beneath which is positioned an indicator and card 26 of a liquid level gauge. To prevent leakage, this gauge is preferably of the magnetic type, the construction of which is well known. The gauge is controlled by a depending shaft 28 rotated by a gear 3U and sector 32., the latter of which is attached to a pivoted rod 34 having a float 36 at its outward end-al1 in a manner well known in the art.

The filling tting 28 is hollow and has a filling opening 38, a vapor return outlet opening 40, a, threaded opening 42 to accommodate a. safety Valve 44, and a threaded opening 46 provided for a pressure gauge 48.

It should be noted that the two horizontal openings 42 and 46 are directly opposite the filling and vapor return openings, respectively. This arrangement makes it possible, when drilling the opening 42, to continue with the drill into the opposite side of the forging to form the horizontal passage of the filling opening. In a similar manner, the horizontal passage to the vapor return opening can be drilled in the operation that forms the opening 46. Thus, the horizontal passages leading from the central portion of the forging to the vapor return and filling openings can be provided without the necessity for blind passages which require plugs to close one end.

The filling and vapor return openings are externally threaded at 50i to provide means for connecting hose couplers thereto for filling the tank Ill from a service truck. Within each of these openings automatic cutoi valves, not shown, are provided in a well-known manner. These valves are normally closed to prevent the pressure within the tank from causing gas to escape when caps 52 are removed in preparation for connecting the nlling and vapor return hoses to their respective openings, but are adapted to be opened by apparatus in the hose couplers when the connection is made.

' In iilling the tank, the caps 52 are removed, the filling and vapor return hoses from the service truck are connected to their respective openings and the service truck valves opened to allow liquefied gas to flowfrom the service truck into the tank I0 through the pipe I6. After the tank has been filled to the proper level, the now of liquefied gas from the service truck is shut off, the hose couplers disconnected and the caps 52 replaced.

The dispensing fitting 22 has a cup-shaped recess 54 in its lower portion into which the pipe I8 is either threaded or welded. Extending vertically within the fitting and communicating with the recess 54 are a central bore 56 and counterbore 58 and two side bores 60 and 62; A conical valve seat 64 is formed at the junction of the bore 56 and counterbore 58, while a bushing 66, having a bore 68 therethrough, is secured in the lower portion of counterbore 58. A ball valve 'I0 freely movable within the counterbore 58 is retained therein by the bushing 66. This ball ID acts as an excess flow check valve and is normally held in its open position against the upper end of the bushing 66 by means of a preferably square or triangular rod "I2 located within the bore 56 and urged downwardly by a spring 14. The top or inward end of the bushing 66 is slotted as at I6 to enable liquid to flow around the valve when the ball is against the bushing. A tube 'I8 nts within the bore 68 and is welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to the bushing 66. This tube 'I8 extends downwardly through the pipe I8 nearly to the bottom of the tank I0.

The bore 56 communicates at its top through a cutoif valve 86 of any suitable construction and intersecting bores 8| with a liquid pressure regulator 82. The outlet connection 84 of the liquid pressure regulator is in turn connected by means of standard tubes and pipe ttings 66 to a horizontal bore 88 intersecting the vertical bore 60.

A tube 90, having one end welded within the opening 60, extends downwardly through the pipe I8 to the bottom of the tank and is then coiled back upwardly to form a heat exchanger and has its opposite end welded within the vertical bore 62. This bore 62 in turn communicates, by means of intersecting bores 92 within the tting 22 and a tube 94, with a vapor pressure regulator 96 mounted upon the pipe I8. The outlet connection of this vapor pressure regulator is connected to the gas using appliances by a service pipe 98.

In operation, liquid from the tank I0 is forced upwardly through the tube 18, around the excess flow check valve, through the bore 56 to the cutoff valve 80, and thence to the liquid pressure regulator 82 through the bores 8|. This regulator 82 is adjusted to pass liquid therethrough whenever the pressure on its outlet side drops below approximately ten pounds per square inch. From the regulator 82 the liquid flows into the coiled tube 90 by means of the tubes and fittings 86 and bores 88 and 60. Within this coiled tube 9U, which is in heat exchange relation to the liquid within the tank Ill, the liquid is quickly vaporized at the decreased pressure maintained thereinapproximately ten pounds per square inch. The vapor passes upwardly from the coiled tube 90 and into the vapor pressure regulator 96 by way of the bores 62 and 92 and tube 94. The regulator 96 is adjusted to pass vapor therethrough whenever the pressure in the service pipe 98 drops below the necessary service pressure. This pressure is, as a rule, a matter of only a few ounces per square inch.

The liquid and vapor pressure regulators 82 and 96, respectively, have not been described in detail, since these elements are vof well-,known 'construction fand vare standard articles of *commerce.

i'metalhood or-casing1|00 encloses the pipes I6 fand vI8 fand their `fittings and y`extends from slightly 4above ground level downwardlyand has its lower edge Welded to the `tank I0. The intevrior; of the casing I 00 is lined with 'heat insulating 4material 4|02 from the top thereof ldownwardly toa point somewhat-below the frost line. This casing yis covered by a top plate I`04 welded to the side walls and `provided with two manholes |106, lonedirectly aboveeach-of the pipes |6 and i8. Each 'of these manholes is closed by a hinged cover l'tI-08, which is sealed against the .top I04by a nsuitable gasket ||0 positioned between the top and the cover. The covers 1I08Lare provided with .hazsp's I.|2 'or other suitable devices by means of which the #covers can be padlocked when in Vclosed position.

With Athisrarrangement, the user ofthe gas dispensing device can be givena key, bymeans of Whichhe may `unlockzthe .manhole .cover over the dispensing pipe I8 so that he 4may open or close the shutoff valve 80 or adjust the pressure regulators. The service man may carry a key to unlock lthe other ccverto enable him to check the liquid level and tank pressure and to replenish the supply of liquefied gas.

Preferably, the two manhole covers Iil8 and the top |04, as well as the side walls, are lined with heat insulating material.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the side wall of the casing |00 directly opposite the exhaust end of .the-.safety'valve 44, is provided'iwith an aperture ytl'ierethrouglfi leading to a pipe H4 Welded to the casing. This pipe |I4 extends upwardly above thesurface of the ground and at its upward end carries a low pressure relief valve H0. This valve consists of a hood H8, ksupported from the Ipipe `||4fon arms |20 to prevent dirt and other foreign substances from obstructing the operation of the valve, and a circular disc |22 tocover the fend of the pipe ||4.

The above arrangement prevents rain water or dirt or troublesome insects from getting inside the casing |00 and is particularly valuable in sand storm areas. It also prevents the outside air from circulating through the casing, thereby making it more nearly possible to maintain a uniform temperature within the casing. On the other hand, any leakage from the fittings, pressure regulators or any exhaust from the safety valve easily escapes from the casing |00 through the pipe II4 and low pressure relief valve IIB.

A similar arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 6, excepting that in this embodiment the low pressure relief valve I |6 is mounted directly upon one of the manhole covers and communicates therethrough with the interior of the casing. In this embodiment the pipe I I4 and the aperture in the side of the casing leading thereto are not necessary. i

If the apparatus is to be shipped a considerable distance, it is preferable to provide the pipes I6 and I8 and the anged openings I2 and I4 with screw threads, so that the two pipes I6 and I8 and their attachments and fittings can be removed from the tank and shipped in separate packages. It should be noted in this connection that the heat exchanger 90 is of such a diameter that it may be removed through the opening I4. With the above units removable, the casing may to advantage be made to telescope, for instance at the point |24, by making the top portion of the casing |00 of slightly smaller diameter than `the lowerjporti'on. Thus, thetankpanbeshipped with the .top portion oflth'efcasin'g :pushed Adownwardly :inside the lower portion. To erect the casing, ethe upper portion 'is pulled voutwardlyv 10 herently dangerous as is the usualflash vvaporization system. This is because the heat -exchanger absorbs its heat from Athe liquid .in .the Atank and, consequently, the-heat exchanger :cannot become substantially colder 4than the liquefied .15 gas in the tank. Thus, if 4the heat exchanger should become too cold `to `vaporize the liquid therein, this is because the whole body of liquid iscold, and,therefore, the vapor pressure inthe tank would notvbe sufficient to force liquid into the heat exchanger. yThus, `the system merely stops operating instead of forcing liquid to .the gas using appliances in the event that .the heat exchanger becomes too cold to vaporize the liquid. It will be appreciated that the .present vinvention contemplates modications of the preferred embodiment describedand illustratedherein and that the invention is to be measured vby thescope of the appended claims. l

I claim:

30 1. In a device of the classdescribed, a tank adapted to be buried'beneath the surface of the ground, a casing extending .from the :tank to a point above the surface of the ground, saidcasing ,having a top with two vmanholes therein, manhole covers `to close each of said-manholes, a low pressure relief valve communicating with'the inside of said casing and .exhausting to v.the atmosphere, said low pressure relief Valve adapted to open when the pressure inside of `said casing 40 substantially `exceeds atmospheric pressure, dispensing fittings secured to saidtank Aand :located beneath one of said coversand filling-fittings secured to said tank and located'beneath the other of .said covers. 2. In a device of the class described, a tank adapted to be buried beneath the surface of the ground, a metal sleeve secured to said tank and extending upwardly, a second metal sleeve telescoping the first sleeve, said second sleeve having a top with a manhole therein, a manhole cover to close said manhole and a low pressure relief valve communicating with the space inside of said sleeves and exhausting to the atmosphere, said low pressure relief valve adapted to open when the pressure inside of said sleeves substantially exceeds atmospheric pressure.

3. An apparatus for supplying a fuel of substantially uniform composition and at a low pressure from a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons, said o()v apparatus comprising an underground tank having an opening therein, conduit means extending from said tank to a place where the fuel is consumed, and means for regulating the ow of fuel through said conduit; said conduit including a 05 section extending through said opening having a portion arranged to be normally covered by the body of liquid fuel in the tank and having its inlet adjacent the bottom of said tank, a second section extending through said opening connected to said first section and having a substantial portion thereof in close proximity to and coiled about that portion of the rst section disposed within the tank, said last mentioned portion being bodily movable through the opening in said tank, and a third section communicating with the second section and terminating near the place of fuel consumption; said control means including a pressure reducer arranged between the first and second sections of said conduit and a second pressure reducer arranged in the third mentioned section to control the flow of fuel through the latter.

4. Apparatus for supplying fuel at a low pressure from a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons, said apparatus comprising a pressure storage tank buried in the ground to absorb heat from the surrounding earth and having an opening remote from the bottom thereof, conduit means extending from the tank to a place Where the fuel is consumed, and means controlling the fiow of fuel through said conduit means; said conduit means including a portion having its inlet adjacent the bottom of said tank and extending through said opening, a second portion connected to said first portion including a vaporizing section extending in part parallel to and in close proximity to said first portion and in part coiled about the same, said vaporizing section being bodily movable through said opening, and a third portion communicating with the coiled part of said vaporizing section to deliver fuel therefrom at a point of use; said control means including an automatic Valve in said second portion of the conduit controlling the ow of fuel from the tank to the parallel part of said vaporizing section as the vapor is consumed, and a pressure reducing Valve in said third portion to control the flow of fuel through the latter. e

5. In a gas dispensing apparatus, a tank adapted to contain liquefied gas under pressure and be buried in heat exchange relation to the earth, said tank having an opening therein, an eduction tube extending through said opening into said tank and having an opening below the liquid level therein, a liquid pressure regulator connected to said tube, a vapor pressure regulator, a tube extending through the tank opening having a portion positioned in heat exchange relation to the liquefied gas in said tank, said portion being bodily movable through the tank opening and extending in part parallel with and in part coiled about said eduction tube and connected between the liquid pressure regulator and the vapor pressure regulator, said pressure regulators being arranged above the tank.

6. In a gas dispensing apparatus, a tank adapted to contain liquefied gas under pressure and be buried in heat exchange relation to the earth, a standpipe connected thereto, a unitary fitting for the outer end of said standpipe having an opening for connection therewith, an eduction tube communicating with the interior of said tting extending through the standpipe into said tank and having an opening below the liquid level therein, a liquid pressure regulator communicating With said tube through said fitting, a vapor pressure regulator, a tube passing through the standpipe having a portion posif tioned in heat exchange relation to the liquefied gas in said tank and extending in part parallel with and in part coiled about said eduction tube and communicating through the interior of said fitting with the liquid pressure regulator and the vapor pressure regulator.

OLAF R. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,609,756 McMahon Dec. 7, 1926 1,752,165 Ford Mar. 25, 1930 1,752,166 Ford Mar. 25, 1930 1,894,497 Rowland Jan. 17, 1933 1,935,925 Wannach Nov. 2l, 1933 2,121,673 White June 2l, 1938 2,121,675 White June 21, 1938 2,155,340 Stroud Apr. 18, 1939 2,166,922 White J-uly 18, 1939 2,176,829 White Oct. 17, 1939 

